Heartbreak for Esteghlal, Reds win

TEHRAN - Newly-crowned Iran champions Esteghlal’s hopes of winning a domestic double this season were ruined when they lost to first division side Mes Rafsanjan on penalties in the Hazfi Cup on Thursday.

Persepolis kept alive their hopes of getting the fourth berth in the next year’s AFC Champions League beating their ACL counterparts Sepahan 1-0 to make it to the last eight stage.

Saba Battery, another ACL side in this year’s continental championship, thrashed Shamooshak 6-1 to storm into the quarter-finals.

In an action-packed first half, Milad Noori and Ali Alizadeh’s strikes for Esteghlal were neutralized by Amir Hossein Mohammadi and Milad Meydavoodi.

Yadolah Akbari missed Esteghlal’s fifth penalty sending Mes into the last eight. Mohammadi, Davoodi, Dehnavi, Azizi and Dasht Pouri scored for the winners while Hossein Kazemi, Hashem Beiyk Zade, Meysam Maniee and Yadolah Akbari converted their shots for Amir Ghalenoiee’ side who will host Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on May 5 in their ACL encounter.

Sattar Zare scored the match-winner for the Reds in the 12th minute. He had the chance to double the advantage in the 73rd minute but the midfielder failed to convert the penalty.

Persepolis, who are second in ACL Group B with seven points, will take on UAE’s Al Sharjah on May 6, will face Pas Hamedan in the quarter-final. In another match, Ekbatan beat Bargh Shiraz 4-1.

AFC